Voyage of Glaciers (Northbound) Cruise

Day 1 - Vancouver

Arrive: Wed 14 July 2021 / Depart: Wed 14 July 2021 at 16:30

It seems unlikely that a character named "Gassy Jack" Deighton would be responsible for one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. But that's history for you. During the gold rush, Gassy Jack saw a chance to make money from the hordes of miners on their way to the Yukon. The saloon he built became the focus of the shanty town known as Gastown. From that ragtag group of shacks, modern Vancouver was born. The provincial government persuaded settlers to change the name of the town to Vancouver, after Captain George Vancouver, who sailed the region's waters in 1792. Canada's third-largest city, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan place with a European feel and a personality all its own. It's a community with a rich ethnic mix - including the second-largest Chinatown in North America - and stunningly beautiful parks.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Icy Strait Point, Alaska

Arrive: Fri 16 July 2021 at 12:00 / Depart: Fri 16 July 2021 at 22:00

Icy Strait Point is 22 miles southeast of Glacier Bay National Park and down the road from the traditional homeland of the Huna Tlingit people. Its premiere location allows for spectacular wildlife viewing as well as a unique glimpse into the history and culture of Alaska.

Day 4 - Juneau

Arrive: Sat 17 July 2021 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 17 July 2021 at 21:00

In 1880, it was slow going for Joe Juneau and Richard Harris as they searched for gold with the help of Native guides. After climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties, they found nuggets "as large as beans." From their discovery came three of the largest gold mines in the world. By the end of World War II, more than $150 million in gold had been mined. Eventually the mines closed, but the town Joe Juneau founded became the capital of Alaska and the business of gold was replaced by the business of government. Some 30,000 people live in Juneau. Its total area makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden, and Sitka, Alaska, exceed Juneau's 3,248 square miles. Today Juneau is famous not only for gold and government but also for its breathtakingly beautiful glaciers and stunning views of both water and mountains.

Day 5 - Skagway

Arrive: Sun 18 July 2021 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 18 July 2021 at 20:30

Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest. Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail. The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome. Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.

Day 6 - Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Day 7 - College Fjord

Day 8 - Whittier

Arrive: Wed 21 July 2021 at 12:30 / Depart: Wed 21 July 2021

Whittier, approximately 65 miles southeast of Anchorage, lies nestled at the base of the Chugach Mountains bordering Passage Canal. Established as a World War II port for cargo and troops of the Alaska Command, Whittier remained activated until 1960. Today, Whittier's economy and its 290 residents rely largely on the fishing industry, the port and, increasingly, on tourism.